Get Lost In Your Music To Find Confidence

There are so many things about my time in New York City that I never wrote about on my blog and that I will never share with you but as I’ve made my way back to college and a hard transition back into the life I have to live here there’s something I want to share with you because it has been crossing my mind a lot lately as I lay in bed thinking about life before saying my prayers and falling asleep.

Two of the most tangible things that I own are my journal and my noise canceling headphones. There are so many stories that tie into the two that have helped me grow so much but I want to talk about my headphones and the power of my music.

The main point at the end of these few paragraphs is finding confidence and comfort in your own skin – so again, please stick with me because I only write about things I really want to share.

Being anonymous in New York City was one of the most beautiful things to me. I loved that I didn’t have to stop and talk to anyone on my way to work. I loved that I literally could dance on my way home from a workout.

So, when I listen to music I’m in a whole different world and element. I love it. There are so many things that music can do and help with if you allow yourself to get lost in it.

I always have the urge to dance especially when I have my headphones in. The factor of being unknown in the city allowed me to prance around a bit on my commute to places. People probably thought I was losing it as I was literally skipping or twirling around in circles to the beat of my favorite Chance The Rapper songs.

It took time. At first, I enjoyed just snapping to the beat of music but as the days and weeks went on I grew to find myself humming tunes, to skipping, to actually singing the songs aloud. Sure, it’s weird and odd but I can’t express enough how relieving, relaxing and rejuvenating it was.

At first, I was tiptoeing around it and would only prance around when no one was around but I grew confident and let myself go in the sense of cares I gave. I grew comfortable and let myself enjoy the love of life.

I got in a really good routine of making it priority again to live healthy physically and I went to the gym everyday while in the city.

My walk back from the gym had to be my favorite part of my day. To get home I had to walk down a street where rarely there was anyone which is so uncommon in my area and I also got to end my walk back in my favorite part of the city (Washington Square Park). My walk home was like my own play ground. It felt like I was on my own universe and I was the absolute queen of it. I made a whole workout my walk home even – I used high benches to jump on turns to do intervals on and etc. More importantly, I really let myself go in the music I turned on. In those moments, there was nothing ever that could pull me down.

I’m frustrated and struggling today as I write and think about this. I haven’t lost myself in the music as much as I did in NYC. The people, environment and life here are so different. Yet, I shouldn’t let something so silly hold me back from having the release of music.

I’m scared to let myself fall through the cracks again that I worked so hard to seal while away this summer.

I grew confident in my own skin again. I can’t let myself lose that and if anything I want to surround myself with others that are comfortable in their as well. In addition, I want to get others to be confident in their own skin as well. There are so many ways to find yourself and grow confident.

If you’ve read this far, I challenge yourself to give yourself some alone time and go for a walk. Turn on your favorite playlist and really engage in it. How does it make you feel? What does it make you want to do? What are you thinking about when you walk and listen?

If you are even considering doing this, I am so excited for you. If you do decide to do it, turn some music on that makes you want to bop and prance around. Turn music on that makes your heart feel full and gives your stomach butterflies. If you don’t know what that music is – don’t hesitate to ask me for suggestions because I’ve found some amazing playlists, bands, genres and artists that do exactly just that.

Let’s get comfortable and let’s get confident in our own skin. It’s about damn time for everyone to do that.

Music is neat but you are neater. So, let’s embrace that.

Stay The Loveliest,

Em Chertow

(Only picture I could find of me with my headphones on – this is me on a summer day in Central Park on my way to spend the entire day at The Met)